Thermax , Ceres For Green Hydrogen Production In India

Thermax, a leading energy and environment solutions provider and a trusted partner in energy transition, has announced a strategic collaboration with Ceres Power Holdings plc (CWR.L), a leading developer of clean energy technology. The two companies have entered a non-exclusive, global license agreement for Thermax to manufacture, sell, and service stack array modules (SAM) based on Ceres’ advanced solid oxide electrolysis (SOEC) technology.

In the collaboration, Thermax will also develop, commercialize, and sell SAM balance of modules (SBM) and multi-megawatt SOEC electrolyzer modules. The partnership marks a significant step towards accelerating the deployment of SOEC technology in India and worldwide that will enable cost-effective green hydrogen production.

Under the scheme of things, Thermax will leverage its extensive experience in heat integration and waste heat recovery to manufacture a first-of-its-kind pressurized SAM and design, engineer, and develop SAM balance of module (SBM), a building block for further development of a multi-MW SOEC electrolyzer module.

The collaboration is set to revolutionize the hydrogen production landscape by delivering systems that are up to 25% more efficient than incumbent low-temperature electrolysis technologies and effectively utilise steam generated from industrial process heat/waste recovery. This makes it an optimal solution for decarbonising hard-to-abate industries such as ammonia/fertilizer, steel, refineries, and chemical production.

As a step towards commercialization, Thermax plans to establish a manufacturing facility for the electrolyzers, develop the supply chain, and localize critical components.

This collaboration positions Thermax among the few companies globally to provide large-scale SOEC systems for commercial applications.

Ashish Bhandari, MD & CEO, Thermax, said, “We are excited to partner with Ceres to bring advanced solid oxide electrolysis (SOEC) technology to India. By leveraging our expertise in thermal management, we aim to offer a highly efficient and cost-effective hydrogen production solution that will accelerate the energy transition in India and globally. This collaboration aligns with our commitment to driving sustainable solutions for accelerating decarbonization for hard-to-abate industries.”

Phil Caldwell, CEO of Ceres, stated, “I am pleased to announce our SOEC systems partnership with Thermax, an engineering leader in the energy and environment space operating across India, Europe, and Southeast Asia. This latest system licence agreement will take Ceres into the Indian market which is rapidly becoming one of the most dynamic and increasingly important markets for green hydrogen, green steel, and green ammonia.”

He added, “Our technology enables Thermax to develop next-generation hydrogen solutions for its customers in the hard-to-abate industrial sectors, stimulating market demand pull for our manufacturing licensees. Our entry into this new region marks an exciting opportunity for Ceres as we help enable the path to industrial decarbonization in this rapidly developing market.”